Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-07-07

the summer flowers arc for the first time I'M
folding, drew much OF that wonderful inspira-
ton, through which he was enabled, with
niatchless eloquence, 20
assert eternal Providence
And justify the ways OF God TO men,"
nom those pioneers OF religion, while laboring
with them in the West when young man.
In adaptation 10 the varied needs OF humani-
ty in every state and condition OF life for which
the Bible is so remarkable, there is much TO
encourage, enlighten and give consolation TO
the frontiersmau. Its opening pages gives an
account OF the creation and peopling Of a new
country. Abraham, Moses, Joshua and a
thousand others OF the great and wise
OF the Old Testament, and many OF the
apostles and missionaries OF the New, were
pioneers. Much OF the preaching OF the
early times In Illinois was controversional, and
like political discussions, the champions OF the
different schools Of religion frequently met face
TO face before popular audiences, and with We
hemence, earnestness, and too often with acrt
mony. argued upon questions which divided
Christians into scots. As was the case with
political debates, these discussions were not
confined 10 the public debates, but were oon-
vith forming the character OF the people.
While they 70 great degree aroused and kept
alive the spirit OF controversy, they also
evoked investigation.
Young Logan was distinguished even as o
hoy. Though not IN his youth profound stu
dent OF books, the interest he took in these
speeches and sermons and IN these political
and religious controversies, was extraordinary.
They had q marked effect upon his whole ca
reer. He not only learned from them, but he
frequently took up the SUBJECTS where the
speakers left them, and awaiting himself Of tho
books within his reach, pursued the investigs-
ton, and whichever side he espoused, gained
fnrt oh i'm HUT dc hnff 40
were not all given TO subjects OF this nature.
He was good-naturod, rolliektng, roy
steering youngster, ready for any dar-
ing, dashing enterprise; the best rider,
oarsmau and hunter in the neigh
borhood and for mics around He
had kind OF dash and deyil-may-csre way,
and frequently seemed about to 60 to destruc-
ton. But there was always method in it."
and when peril seemed most imminent, he
would suddenly appear az cool snd cain, and
salf-poised, as the most quiet and prudent Lad
In the neighborhood. Ho had a princely impe-
rious way, which mode him q leader in every
company, but he did not unduly exercise his
power. He was always kind, gentle and gra-
cious, and as popular ruler as ever swayed a
scepter over a company OF urchins. He was
always, as boy and man, TO the last day OF his
life, most striking figure, one that you always
wished to look at more than once.
From the time OF John A. Logan's earnest
recollections until he was nearly twelve years
old, Andrew jackson was the most striking fig
ure in American politics. Among
'the gossamer links
BY which the manikin feels its way,
Into the light OF day."
those that led toward this extraordinary man
were potent in forming the lads character
To the people Of illinois, General Jackson was
the embodiment OF patriotism, OF chivalry and
OF wisdom. A large number Of the inhabitants,
many Of whom we're from General Jacltson's
own State, had shared with him the hardships
Of his campaigns. His bold aggressive spirit
made him not only favorite, but an idol
Two years before John A. Logan was born
General Jackson had been candidate for Pres
ident, receiving more electoral votes than any
other candidate, but the election was thrown
into the House, and jackson was defeated, as it
was claimed by the Democrats of Illinois, bv
intrigue and fraud. Two years after John A.
Logan was born General Jackson was trium-
phantly elected President and continued TO
hold the position untn the lad was eleven years
old. There was such enthusiasm for him as
had never before been known, and to be any
thing else than a jackson boy, a jackson Dem
ocratic boy, would have been impossible for so
ardent youth. He would listen for hours to
the tales OF border life, and peril, aud battle,
through which his hero had passed They
stirred his patriotic emotions TO their profound
to be such man as was General jackson.
Under such influences as we have attempted
To describe, John A. Logan was reared. He at
tended school; he went away to college. He
became well informed IN history and thorough
in mathematics as far as they were taught in
those early days, and no man better understood
the rules of grammar. He also acquired some
knowledge OF the ancient languages. II is
natural that his habits Of thought and express
sion should have been in a considerable degree
formed and permanently fixed by his en-
viroRments; so irrevocaby fixed that they
could not be shaken OF nor overcame. In all
OF his great career pedantry, especially in New
England, barSed and snapped az his heels be-
cause of some real or fancied shortcoming or
mistake in syntax. II could not see that his
pecuiiarities of expression came from the as
sociations Of his life oil through his youth, and
that they were not more peculiar, and no moro
remarkable, though OF 3 different nature, than
their own. Beyond tho Alleghanes, enc
who every day meets men and women from all
sections OF the Republic and from tho whole
civilized world, realizes that each section has
its peculiar idioms and forms OF speech, and
while he recognizes the pecuharities, he looks
through the form to the substance. With
him, it Is not so much the construction of
the sentence as the idea it contains. To
him man whose speech could awe Sonates
and thrill vast multitudes, whose power of
thought could overthrow administrations and
scatter 10 dust great political dynasties, whose
mighty eloquence drew mon after him, away
from race prejgdices and party allegiance, to
fight and die under an administration they had
done their utmost 10 keep from power might be
great, even though his manner Of expression
indicated the locality where he was born and
bred. 1t is said OF Carlyle, that scarcely any
thing annoyed him more than his inability 10
shake OF from his tongue the Scotch accent,
which his every utterance betrayed.
AS young Logan attained to manhood, the
complications arising out OF the annexation of
Texas came upon the country, ending tn the
war with Mexico. There was Democratic
President and the war was a Democratic
measure. Logan was interested In the contro-
versy from the beginning. He read and under
stood the correspondence between the two
countries, and speeches In Congress. He I'M
derstood the boundary issue, and was convinced
that by the acquisition OF Texas, hts country
extended TO the Rio Grand instead of to the
EueceS river, as was claimed by Mexico and by
those in the United States who opposed war.
He contemplated with swelling emotions the
vast territory OF Mexico beyond our then
western border, and was not unwilling to en-
gage In war in the hope OF making it q part OF
the American Republic. 1t is unnecessary 70 go
into discussion Of the questions out Of which
came the war with Mexico. Logan, at twenty
gears o. age enlisted He was good soldier,
tanned his majority, returned home, q hero.
He was elected clerk Of jackson County, but
had other and higher aims. He resigned the
position, and became student in the law de-
partment OF the Louisville University. After
graduating with honor, he returned home aud
entered into the practice OF his profession in
company with his mothers brother, cx-Govor-
nor Jenkins In 1852 he was elected to the Leg
islature, position which years before had been
held by his father, and when the term expired
was elected prosecuting attorney Of large dis
trict, and Travelled from coanty TO county, in at
tendance upon courts.
1t was while thus travelling upon the circuit
that he wooed and won that illustrious woman
whose name and fame will forever be blended
with his own. For more than thirty years she
was al his side, the most devoted wife, the most
earnest Christian mother. and the most faith
full helpmeet Through her assisting him,
especially in his labors in behalf OF his suffer
ing comrades in arms, and their stricken fam
lilies, She has eHdeared herself to more human
beings than any woman now living In every
city and hamlet, and in every rural retreat of q
vast continent, men and women are telling OF
her virtues, and until she is reunited with
the husband she so fondly loved, the sym
patty and affection OF great Nation will 20
out 10 her.
These twain, upon the skirts Of time.
Sat side by SIDE full summed in all their pow
ers,
Dispensing harvest, sowing the to-be,
Self reveren cling each and reverencing each,
But like each other, evn as those who love-"
In 1856 Logan was again elected TO the Leg
islature, and in 1855 he was elected to Congress.
II was during the campaign when he was first
elected TO the National Legislature, that oc-
Cured in Illinois those wonderful debates be-
tween Lincoln and Douglas, in which the fate